Matagam Pagwa #1: Defender Down and Bleak Realities: Matagam Pagwa, #1

Dedication

To the residents of Atlin, British Columbia

and

their Atlin Supportive Living Society.

Acknowledgments

The author wishes to thank the following people for their time,

for their patience,

for their encouragement,

for their constructive criticism,

most off all for their much needed support:

Susan & Jerry Kuelbs, Douglas, Alaska, and Atlin, BC.

Richard & Diane Stephens, Atlin, BC.

Without these four individuals, the author would have given up twenty years ago or more.

Thank you for the much needed kicks!

And thank you for getting hold of Connie at Fathom Publishing in Anchorage, Alaska.

Colin F. Carter

Spring 2023

Atlin Supportive Living Society

Atlin Supportive Living Society (ASLS) was formed in 2001. It is a volunteer driven, multifaceted, non-profit, registered charitable society operating in Atlin, British Columbia. It is managed by a board of six directors and twelve active core members. The organization is headquartered and operates most of its services from the former Anglican Rectory, known as The Pew.

ASLS currently provides care, support, and advocacy for Atlin senior citizens in need, ensuring a better quality of life and the ability to remain in their own homes and community for as long as possible. Atlin is a small, tight knit community of four hundred with a prevailing aging demographic. Since its creation, virtually all community members have involvement with the Society in one way or another, either benefiting from services or donating services. ASLS has an eclectic group of members: ranging from nurses, teachers, home care workers, cooks, cleaners, journeyman carpenters, equipment operators, book keepers, accountant, drivers, underground miners, placer miners, business people, big game outfitters, contractors and lay people. Everyone is welcome.

Over the years, ASLS has successfully built strong working relationships and community partnerships to assist with the mandate of advocacy for Atlin seniors. Such members include the Atlin business community, Atlin Community Improvement District, Taku River Tlingit First Nation, Social Health, Atlin Health Centre, Atlin Community Recreation Centre, BC Ambulance, BC Northern Health Authority, Northern Health Home and Community Care in Terrace, and RCMP (morgue services). ASLS was instrumental in ensuring that a new health center was built for the community of Atlin.

As an NGO, Atlin Supportive Living Society combines funding support from community donations and governments to carry on its work. By pairing this funding with our volunteer network, ASLS stretches every dollar of funding raised for maximum benefit to the community. The support from the community allows us to provide: Meals on Wheels, Foot Clinics, Palliative Care, Morgue Services, Bathing Services, Advocacy Work, and other needed services. Support comes, every year, through community fundraising and community volunteering. By working in cooperation with governments and with the support of the Atlin Community, ASLS is able to fulfill its mandate of caring for the community.

The Society has been growing and diversifying its services since ASLS began twenty-three years ago. In the first five years, ASLS operated Meals on Wheels, home care, and palliative care services. These services relied solely on community support in the beginning.

In the following five years, the Society built on these services and began developing a working relationship with BC Northern Health Authority. This resulted in the expansion of ASLS services to the community through the development of our medical equipment loan cupboard. It was during this period that ASLS encouraged government policy makers, by speaking with Provincial and Territorial governments, to develop a Memorandum of Understanding so that Atlin seniors could access long-term care facilities in Whitehorse. This support from British Columbia and Yukon continues to this day. Since 2008 until the present, the Society has continued to provide an array of services and it has advocated for support of medical travel expenses for residents of Atlin who need to access health care outside of the Territory or in southern British Columbia. Like most organizations in the North, ASLS has developed over the years to meet the needs of its community. People are the focus. Caring for our Community is the goal.

Atlin Supportive Living Society cared for Colin during his final months in Atlin. Colin was very supportive of the Society. It was his wish that the net proceeds from the sales of his books be donated to Atlin Supportive Living Society.

Members of Atlin Supportive Living Society Atlin,

British Columbia, Canada

2024

Table of Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Atlin Supportive Living Society

Introduction

Defender Down

Planet and Character List

Prologue

Chapter 1 Hard Landing

Chapter 2 Three Suns on Screen

Chapter 3 Tree Tugs

Chapter 4 Flight Deck Chief Aaron Llelu

Chapter 5 Pilot Ray Oseeka

Chapter 6 The Rapture

Chapter 7 The Raven

Chapter 8 The Outcome

Epilogue

Bleak Realities

Planet and Character List

Prologue

Chapter 1 Hit the Ground

Chapter 2 Wishbone River

Chapter 3 Mosey’s Influence

Chapter 4 The Trirobs

Chapter 5 Inside the Citadel

Chapter 6 Coming to Terms

Chapter 7 The Landing Zone

Chapter 8 Planned Destruction

Chapter 9 Terry Horton

Chapter 10 The Crossing

Chapter 11 The Trail Down

Chapter 12 Esposito’s Idea

Chapter 13 Ryan and Shue

Chapter 14 Old Town

Chapter 15 Getting Organized

Chapter 16 The Big Ruse Owl

Chapter 17 Return to the Citadel

Chapter 18 Decision Time

Epilogue

About the Author

Introduction

We met Colin Carter at the Pine Tree Services Gas Station while on a visit to Atlin many years ago. He pumped our gas. We became friends. We had heard he liked to write stories and asked if he would share one with us.

The stories became a book. Colin would stop by in the evenings for tea and book discussions. He shared his stories with many friends in town, looking for feedback. During one such discussion, a suggestion was tossed out that it would be interesting to find out what happened to Matagam Pagwa, one of Colin’s characters. Colin was off and running, or a better word would be writing. Thus, this series of books beginning with Defender Down.

Two years ago, Colin asked me to help prepare a book for publishing. I firmly declined, explaining I had absolutely no experience. To myself, I wondered how that would work for Colin, living in a small cabin without phone or Internet services and mail service only three days a week. I couldn’t imagine how this could be done in today’s publishing world.

Colin persisted, writing another book, and another, in what would become a series. Finally, I agreed to help him write a cover letter to send with a manuscript to a publisher in Alaska. Fathom Publishing Company was recommended by the Atlin library helpers and had published a book about Atlin by a former resident. Connie agreed to look at the manuscript and give Colin feedback. I shipped the manuscript north to Connie as Colin was headed into Whitehorse for his first tests and treatment for cancer.

That winter between treatments in Whitehorse and trips to Vancouver for surgery, Colin wrote and worked with Connie. The cancer was not going well. Colin kept writing. Word on the street from the medic who visited Colin daily was as long as he is writing, he is strong.

Colin finished his series. He set about putting his life in order, preparing a will, and giving away all his belongs. He left us the Matagam Pagwa Series to do with as we wished.

Preparing a manuscript for publication is an incredible amount of work. It has taken all winter and would not have happened without Connie’s guidance and help. She has been a rock of strength and encouragement. Colin, your final gift to us was a worthy experience. Writing is a powerful tool for the soul. Thank you for showing us that.

Defender Down and Bleak Realities are ready for the press. Net proceeds from the Matagam Pagwa Series sales will be donated to Atlin Supportive Living Program. This program is run by local volunteers who care for elderly and sick residents in their homes, providing clinics, meals on wheels, and social get-togethers during the winter months. They took wonderful care of Colin during that long last winter.

Susan Kuelbs

Atlin, British Columbia

August 2024

Defender Down

Planet and Character List

Solar Systems

Tevely Solar System

Home Planet Volough

Planet Avanac

Silhouette Solar System

Planets Yovex and Xevoy

Volough

Fleet Headquarters

Fleet Admiral Comm., Minister of Defense Bert White

Rear Admiral Oilskin Three-in-One

Battleship Defender

Capt. Allen Zeff

EXO Russell Maxx

Comm. Officer Lt. Alice Dawa

Chief Engineer Lt. Connie Frohm

Dr. Ann O’Casey

Flight Deck Chief Aaron Llelu

Flight Tech. Lucy Tyyne

Fighter Pilot Ray Oseeka

Mess Cook Fross

Galley Staff Member Sandra Buffet

Deck Mate/Crew Member Martha Vulla

Fighter Pilots Mary, Sam, Beth

Battleship Raven

Acting Fleet Admiral Capt. Richard Dobbs

Comm. Officer Lt. Pamela Morris

Battleship Rapture

Acting Commander Rear Admiral Oilskin Three-in-One

EXO Stephanie Bozzar

Commander Squadron Leader Lt. Bart Cassel

Comm. Officer Lieutenant Zoyia

Battleship Vanquish

Battleship Dreadnought

Yovex

Jenna Simon

Ben Simon, Jenna’s husband

Jenna’s father

Prologue

In the Tevely solar system near the planet of Volvough, the inter-galaxy battle between Zolleck and the Catherian forces had been raging for three days. The debris and fuselages of forty-eight assorted full-size battleships, smaller battle cruisers and carriers, along with hundreds of fractured fighters littered the Tevely solar system. Although the Zolleck Acting Fleet Admiral Capt. Richard Dobbs of the battleship Raven was badly outnumbered, the Zolleck fleet was holding its own with his tactics and his people’s resolve.

Each time Capt. Dobbs had his Comm. Officer Lt. Pam Morris request support from Rear Admiral Oilskin at headquarters, the response was always given with the same curt demeaning attitude, You tell Dobbs he has his orders and you quit giving me his shabby excuses.

Sir, with all due respect, Captain Dobbs has repeatedly asked me to make it clear to you that—

Listen. If you don’t stop bothering me, I’ll have you up on insubordination charges. Now tell Dobbs to get the damn job done.

When Rear Admiral Oilskin cut the radio link with Lt. Morris, Capt. Dobbs asked, What did Three-In-One say this time?

He says he’ll have me up on insubordination charges. The man’s tone and attitude are totally demeaning.

Someday someone’s going to airlock that bastard. Pam, if he ever comes within arm’s length of you, tell me. And that’s an order.

* * *

Two days later, Defender, Raven, Rapture and Venture were among the eight Zolleck ships that survived the battle and landed on the planet Volvough. It was eleven days later before the battleships and carriers with a supply convoy arrived to relive what was left of Capt. Dobbs’ force. The Dreadnought and Vanquish arrived with the Minister of Defense, Fleet Admiral Commander Bert White. The next day, the crews of the eight ships were assembled on the tarmac so the Fleet Admiral Commander could congratulate them and award medals to the eight captains.

After the ceremony, Bert White asked Capt. Allen Zeff of Defender to speak to him in his quarters on Vanquish. Son, you’re the youngest captain in the fleet with the youngest group of senior officers. I admire the way you got them to bond together. It’s a sign of a natural leader.

Thank you, sir, but please realize each of my senior officers are strong individuals with the potential of advancement.

Zeff, I reviewed and scrutinized their records and you are right about them with two exceptions. Your mess cook, Fross, and your EXO, Commander Russell Maxx.

I agree Fross has his limitations. As for Commander Maxx, he’s opinionated and stands his ground, but he does listen to reason and will back my orders.

Well put. You read people and know how to motivate them. That’s one of the reasons I want to put your name forward to replace me as Minister of Defense.

"Captain Dobbs of the Raven is the one who was in command. Should his name be put forward?"

Dobbs is a fine captain with a loyal crew, but he doesn’t have the leadership skills you exhibit. He stands too much on orders.

May I ask where will you be?

Within a year, hopefully, I’ll be given an air lock funeral. Zeff, that’s how long the medical specialists have given me. So far, the war is going well, and I could have your EXO promoted with you as your personal aide.

What would Oilskin have to say?

Zeff, I’ve heard numerous unsettling rumors of how Oilskin disciplines his subordinates. Yet no one has come forward to officially press charges. Plus, the fact is he has some strange ideas on how to reform the military. You and your EXO will have to curry some political backing or end up being sheep to the slaughter. I’m scheduled to leave in three hours, so I need your answer.

I’d want time to talk with my EXO.

My health problems are classified. If the Catherian ever found out, they might see it as a time of confusion and try to take advantage of any changes in command. Whatever you decide, what has been said here, stays here. Now what’s your answer?

Without talking with Maxx, sorry, sir, I decline.

Capt. Allen Zeff left the Minister of Defense, not fully realizing the long-term negative effects his answer would have on the Zolleck military. It was eight months after the meeting that Fleet Admiral Commander Bert White’s funeral was held. Oilskin was promoted to the position of Minister of Defense. He soon started to hear all the hushed rumors discussing how his predecessor Bert White had offered the position to Zeff of Defender first and the man had turned down the promotion.

With the war continuing, the changes Oilskin instituted in the Zolleck military changed the tide of the war to the advantage of the Catherian forces. At the beginning of the fourth year of Oilskin’s appointment as the Minister of Defense, he was replaced and demoted down to a desk-bound rear admiral. His last official order as Minister of Defense was to have Defender with its Capt. Zeff relegated as chaperone to the hospital ship Noble. Oilskin’s hope was that the small battle cruiser would meet its end going in and out of raging battle zones.

When Zeff received his ship’s new orders and saw who had signed off on them, he knew Oilskin had made one last attempt to put his ship and crew directly in harm’s way. With the war going more and more in the Catherian’s favor, Zolleck hospital ships were called into the worst situations to evacuate the wounded. The chair-bound Oilskin ordered Noble into the areas of the worst-case scenarios with Defender chaperoning.

Chapter 1 Hard Landing

Capt. Zeff woke up in his quarters and showered, then dressed. He was about to head to the mess for breakfast when a ship-wide alert sounded. That changed his goal from having a leisurely start to his day to a hurried pace to the bridge. When he stepped onto the bridge, Comm. Officer Lt. Alice Dawa was listening to the ship-to-ship comm. She reported, "Captain, three full-size Catherian battleships came over top of that massive asteroid belt we passed and launched their fighters targeting Noble."

The EXO Commander Russell Maxx had already called the flight deck to get his fighters wheels up to protect the hospital ship that Defender was chaperoning. Within minutes, Defender’s forty-eight fighters were in position to protect Noble. Defender’s automated weapons array was online and ready. Zeff watched the screen and gave the orders for his mid-size battle cruiser to target the lead enemy ship. As his ship went head on with the Catherian’s full-size ship, Defender suffered numerous damaging heavy hits.

Lt. Connie Frohm, the chief engineer, called up to the bridge, Captain, we’re getting pounded. We’ve lost long-range scanners and the shields are down to fifty-six percent. That last thump caused our main engines to stammer.

Frohm, just keep us flying. Zeff out.

Dawa informed Zeff, "The captain of Noble is holding on the comm, sir."

As Zeff continued watching the screen, he told Dawa to put him through. Before a word had been spoken, Noble exploded into a fiery display of red, yellow, and blue colors. At the same time, the EXO reported, We’ve lost forty-four fighters and the other two carriers are turning toward us. It’s time to run, Zeff. As the EXO passed the word for the fighters to run, Zeff gave the same order to Navigation Officer Second Lt. Wayne Wicks.

The damage to Defender was so severe that the enemy commander felt the ship would die its own slow death and become a ghost ship floating aimlessly in space. He gave the order for his fighters to return to their carriers and to go wheels down. His primary agenda was to join up with the rest of the Catherian fleet. In the mind of the commander, pursuing a crippled mid-sized battle cruiser was a waste of fuel and a needless risk. After forty minutes of not being pursued, Defender’s remaining four fighters went wheels down in one of its hangers.

Zeff sat in his set room with EXO Maxx as they listened to Frohm’s report. The weapons array is offline. The ship’s scanning system is down to ten thousand miles. The main engines are cavitating to the point that if we don’t cut speed, we’ll lose them totally. I seriously suggest we cut speed to half or one-third.

Zeff asked, What else?

Given time, optimistically I can get the shields back to eighty percent. We need an H-type planet to land on. The alternative will be going wheels down on a frozen moon.

We’ll have to take what’s closest, Zeff out.

After Frohm’s report, he called Wicks into his set room. He had the computer bring up the closest solar systems. All but one is out of reach.

The three of them looked at the Silhouette System in silence. Finally, Max stated, Yovex, not a chance in hell. We aren’t that desperate.

Wicks stated the reality. We’d all be collecting our pensions before we got to the next safe system. That’s if we didn’t run out of fuel and food and lived that long.

Zeff considered Wicks’ off-handed remark and put off making a decision. Tomorrow at eight-hundred, we meet here and discuss any other options.

Dawa had sent a distress signal at the time of the initial attack and another one reporting the ship’s damages and Yovex as their nearest H-type planet. Zeff knew with the way the war was going back home, it could be weeks before a ship would be sent to aid them. Wicks went back to his duties on the bridge and Maxx went down to the hanger to meet with his four pilots.

Zeff met with Dr. Ann O’Casey on the med deck to hear her prognosis of the fifteen injured. When the doctor went back to attending the wounded, Zeff took the time to visit with each of them. To him, his crew was family.

After Zeff left Dr. O’Casey, he went to see the four surviving pilots. They talked for twenty minutes before Frohm called him on the comm reporting the state of the engines. Zeff called Maxx to meet him in the engine room. When they got there, Frohm walked them through pointing to the most serious problems. Zeff noted the damage and credited her people for catching the issues.

Maxx asked bluntly, Frohm, how long will the main engines hold?

No telling. Good news is the port and starboard impulse engines are intact.

Will they be enough to give us mobility through a planet’s atmosphere?

The real question is how much control we will have? Zeff interjected, Do your best. What about the shields?

Give us a couple of days to deal with the engines and then I’ll work on them. With luck, I should be able to get them back to eighty percent.

Try to get some sleep tonight. In the morning at eight-hundred, I want you and Wicks in the set room. Maxx, that goes for Dawa as well. After checking his watch, he added, I’m meeting O’Casey in the mess. Remember zero-eight-hundred in the morning.

When Zeff got up to the mess, he sat down across from Ann as she commented, Fross has got his place pretty much straightened away.

Zeff checked the menu board. Spaghetti and meatballs, that’s all?

Fross hasn’t changed. Zeff, tonight we’ll have to talk.

I know.

After Zeff and Ann finished eating, they went to his quarters where she brought up the subject. "Noble had the operating theatre I need here. Zeff, it’s just a matter of time."

Out of the fifteen?

Ann’s eyes moistened as she replied, Odds are twelve.

Zeff listened compassionately as she talked about the injuries the twelve had and the fact that they probably wouldn’t make it. Then he suggested they get some rest.

At 0600 hours, Ann was awakened by the